TP Commercial hires Pirelli Ag/OTR GM

ROME, Ga. — TP Commercial Solutions L.L.C. has hired Alex Vitale, general manager of agricultural/OTR tires for Pirelli Tyre the past 15 months, as its CEO for North America, replacing Clif Armstrong, who is no longer with the company.

Mr. Vitale brings more than 20 years of global tire industry experience to TP Commercial Solutions, where he will lead the company's efforts and expansion in the commercial truck and fleet markets in the U.S. and Canada.

"I look forward to continue driving the expansion of Pirelli-branded truck, bus, agro and OTR business in North America," Mr. Vitale said. "...we will build on our product launches this year through further product development and offerings for the market."

Prior to joining Pirelli in 2016, Mr. Vitale was vice president, international sales and marketing for Kal Tire for six-plus years and business unit manager, Europe/Middle East/Africa for Goodyear for nine years. He began his tire industry career in 1988 with Pirelli Tyre in various sales positions.

Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis

Armstrong

Rome-based TP Commercial Solutions is an entity of Prometeon Tyre Group, the former Pirelli industrial business unit that supplies commercial truck tires and fleet solutions to the global market.

Mr. Armstrong was hired by Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. in early 2016 to head up TP Commercial Solutions as its president and to help build Pirelli's truck tire business in North America.

As recently as April he was actively promoting the business at a presentation at the North American Tire & Retread Expo in New Orleans.

TP Commercial did not comment on the circumstances of his departure.

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